Royal Roads University Policy

Policy Number:

b1230

First implemented:

March 26, 2010

Approved By:

Board of Governors

Office of Oversight:

President's Office

Board Policy Statment

Through a strategic focus on international initiatives, Royal Roads will pursue the unique opportunity of enhancing the success of its programs, reinforcing their quality and extending their reach, and contributing to British Columbia’s goals around labour market development by attracting, educating, and retaining more highly qualified people.

Internationalization offers Royal Roads University an additional opportunity to fulfill its unique mandate as well as ensure a diversified revenue base for sustainable and strategic growth of the institution. As such, it is a natural progression of the university’s current operations, and allows RRU to assist new students and their employers to better prepare themselves for the challenges and opportunities evident in the increasingly globalized world.

Through expanded international activity, RRU will accomplish the following:

Facilitate and build global perspectives, international collaboration, research, exchanges and networking for students and faculty.

Contribute to the achievement of revenue contributions and enrolment targets established in the November 2009 Strategic Direction document.

Enhance and extend Royal Roads University’s reputation as a prestigious British Columbia university offering programs of very high academic and pedagogic quality.

Contribute to federal and provincial government goals for international relations, development of international trade and immigration.

Philosophy

The underlying principles that will enable international initiatives include:

International initiatives will be guided by the November 2009 Strategic Direction document and be consistent with the 3-year business plan and one-year operations forecasts.

RRU will seek to expand overseas in close alignment with the trade and immigration agendas of the governments of British Columbia and Canada.

International initiatives will be tied to core institutional strengths and aligned with teaching and research expertise. They will be market-driven, current, and relevant, and will build on existing strategies/programs/contacts.

International opportunities will be considered as they embrace our mandate, and focus on the educational needs of people already in the workplace, or those who have the experience and understanding necessary to incorporate work as an integral part of the learning process.

International initiatives will also result in a more diversified portfolio of international activity that reduces institutional exposure to a single national market.

Expansion markets will be selected on the strength of their potential for growth,

RRU’s capacity to meet student and client requirements in the country or region, and alignment with international and trade priorities of the governments of British Columbia and Canada.

International initiatives will increase capacity in existing domestic programs and support the educational experience of all our students, faculty and staff.

President's Responsibilities

The President will ensure that resources, procedures, and processes are in place to effect this policy, and that goals and performance measures are identified. International initiatives will be carefully assessed through robust evaluation of business cases, including exit strategies, ensuring that all risks are evaluated and financial returns meet defined hurdle rates. Consistent with Board requirements, a one-year post-appraisal will be completed.

International programming will be characterized by high academic quality and pedagogy, efficient program delivery, and cost effectiveness. Policy and process development for improved quality assurance measures for offshore programs will be implemented.

In addition to regular reporting requirements, the President will ensure that major issues or changes are reported to the Board, and will seek Board approval for initiatives in accordance with this policy.

Information, Action and Monitoring Requirements for the Board

The Board will receive regular reports (minimum annual) including:

Business plans

Post-implementation appraisal reports

Performance reporting aligned with measurable outcomes established in relation to strategic objectives

Regular reporting on international activity

Where a given country or region poses risk of material harm, failure or damage to institutional reputation, or where the initiatives falls outside of the guiding principles of this policy, the activity/opportunity and resulting action will require Board approval.